Absolute contraindications to using very-low-calorie weight loss diets or practicing fasting:

Malignant arrhythmia

Protein wasting disease
(e.g. lupus, Cushing’s syndrome)

Major system failure (e.g. liver failure, renal failure)

Drug therapy causing protein wasting (steroids, anti-neoplastic agents)

Metastatic cancer (stage IV)

Diabetes, type 1, juvenile

Severe osteoporosis

MI or stroke within last 6 months

Anorexia

Pregnancy or lactation